Cow Horsin’ in Ontario

Darren Bilyea receiving a Greg Darnell bit for his High Point Award. Presented by Steve Close of The Saddle Shack, Tack Shop. Photo Credit: Alison Robinson

The Misty Meadows Fall Spectacular, judged by Rod Thiessen from Estevan, SK, was the gem in the crown of the North Eastern Reined Cow Horse Alliance for their shows this season. The show was held on September 1 & 2 at the Ilderton Fairgrounds in Ilderton, Ontario. Competitors came from as far away as New York State, Michigan, Virginia and Kentucky.

This show will be talked about for some time and competitors and fans of cow horse are anticipating another spectacular event for 2019.

Highlights from the Misty Meadows Fall Spectacular include two days of National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) classes with $1,000 added each day. The Spectacular also included NRCHA Futurity Open classes, as well as Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro classes with $1,200 added. For the four-year-olds, there were NRCHA Derby Open, Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro classes, again with $1,200 added. Finally, for the older horses there was an NRCHA Bridle Spectacular Open, Non-Pro and LTD. Non Pro with $1,200 added, and a Green Rider Spectacular with $500 added.

The winner of the Greg Darnell bit for High Point Cow Horse (highest fence run) was won by Darren Bilyea. Bilyea recently worked on the Taron Ranch, in Wabasca , AB. During his employment there he started colts, trained and showed reining and working reined cow horses. Bilyea is an NRCHA approved judge and has won numerous national titles. No doubt those days spent working on the Taron Ranch prepared the champion competitor for the event. Now back in Ontario, Bilyea is working hard to promote the working reined cow horse through the North Eastern Reined Cow Horse Alliance.